Hotline 1.19.22

President's Column: Stabilization, growth, and planning for the future

Greetings from VCSU!

January brings a new year to all, and a new semester to those of us on college campuses. Even though the temperature outside may not be feel like spring yet, we are excited to welcome students back to campus for the Spring 2022 semester and finish out the academic year.

While it is still a bit early to announce our spring enrollment numbers, early indicators are positive. Maintaining a stable enrollment in these challenging times is a tribute to our students, faculty, staff, and community, and at VCSU we have seen increasing enrollments – counter to the national trend. In a January 13 article, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that undergraduate enrollments declined in every sector. Public 4-year institutions reported a 3.8% decrease in fall enrollment from the previous year. While we maintain our excellent undergraduate enrollment numbers, our graduate enrollment increased by nearly 20% this past fall.

Our commitment to provide top-notch facilities is part of planning for the future at VCSU. Our capital campaign is off to a wonderful start with more than $5.3 million in current pledges and gifts to help ensure the future success of the institution. Additionally, intensive preparation for development of our next strategic plan is currently underway. This planning is being done concurrently with the creation of our next strategic campus master plan. These important processes will align with the capital campaign and will involve stakeholders from across campus and the community.

The delivery of high quality and impactful academic and extra-curricular opportunities for our students is the focus of everything we do. We sincerely appreciate the trust placed in us to provide the highest-quality university experience. The many activities and initiatives underway, along with engaged and active learning on campus seems to make the days, weeks, and months fly by. It won’t be long, and we will be shaking hands and congratulating our graduating class of 2022 at our spring commencement ceremony.

To all seniors and those completing their graduate studies this semester, we hope you enjoy your last semester to the fullest!

Go Vikings!

Fall 2021 honor rolls released

Valley City State University has released its President’s Honor Roll, Dean’s Honor Roll and Honor Roll for fall semester 2021.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who completed 12 semester hours or more of VCSU classes for which grade points are earned with a 4.0 grade point average.

VIEW PRESIDENT’S HONOR ROLL

The Dean’s Honor Roll recognizes students who completed 12 semester hours or more of VCSU classes for which grade points are earned with a grade point average of at least 3.50.

VIEW DEAN’S HONOR ROLL

The Honor Roll recognizes students who completed 6 to 11 semester hours of Valley City State University classes for which grade points are earned with a grade point average of at least 3.50.

VIEW HONOR ROLL

In addition to the Honor Rolls, VCSU was proud to award degrees to 127 students in December 2021.

View the list of December 2021 Graduates

VCSU Foundation participating in Giving Hearts Day on Feb. 10

The VCSU Foundation is looking forward to participating in Giving Hearts Day on Thursday, Feb. 10.

In 2021, 243 donors raised $26,800. Those dollars help our students through scholarship support in addition to hosting alumni gatherings, award programs, Homecoming activities, and our alumni newsletter The Bulletin. On Thursday, Feb. 10, donate $10 or more at givingheartsday.org by choosing the VCSU Foundation and your donation will be matched up to $5,000!

Donations can be dropped off anytime between now and 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the VCSU Foundation Office. If you drop off your check before Feb. 10, please make sure the check is dated as Feb. 10 and you have referenced Giving Hearts Day in the memo section in order for the donation to be counted for the match. The matching gift is provided by Ludvigson, Braun & Co. — Matt Pedersen.

In 2021, over $1M was donated to Giving Hearts Day charities through scheduled donations. Scheduling your donation is easy!
1. Find the VCSU Foundation donation page at app.givingheartsday.org/#/charity/383
2. Choose your amount.
3. Make sure “Pay on Giving Hearts Day, February 10th, 2022” is checked in your cart.

Free planetarium shows at Valley City State University

The VCSU Planetarium will feature two free shows this Saturday, Jan. 22 in Rhoades Science Center Room 309.

(Elevator available by west entrance.)  

1 p.m. – Target Earth Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors

Target Earth explores the possibility of our planet being disastrously struck by a large asteroid or comet.  Reporter Cassie O’Peia interviews astronomers Hunter O’Ryan and Anne Dromeda to find out about these near-earth objects.

1:40 p.m. – Finding Polaris I

Meet Polaris – THE North Star!- Who acts as a tour guide, turning a lost astronomy student’s fact-finding mission into a strange and often humorous adventure.  Polaris begins by introducing the Big and Little Bears, then, the star Betelgeuse tells the story of Orion, Markab of Pegasus, and Vega of the Summer Triangle.  This is a 30-minute program.

Find more information at www.vcsu.edu/planetarium-jan22/.

Dafoe receives Staff Member of the Quarter award

Emily Dafoe, user services librarian, recently received the Staff Member of the Quarter Award.

Emily’s nomination read, “Emily is a huge asset to Allen Memorial Library and to the VCSU community. She is constantly working to help our students and will do whatever she can to reach them wherever they are at in the library, on Teams, via text, or even in the student center during her pop-up library events! Once students have met with her, they often come back again and again. I’ve even heard students recommending her to others when they’re having trouble with an assignment. She reaches out to professors across all disciplines to teach information literacy sessions and has set (and meets) a goal to go into at least one new class a semester. She also serves on several campus committees and was a vital part of our recent HLC visit. She has a positive attitude and brings joy and fun into every setting. Occasionally, she brings her dogs too. We are lucky to have her on our campus!”

Congratulations, Emily!

Final call for art to be featured in first show at Center for the Arts

It is the final week for VCSU faculty and staff to submit artwork for the first art show in the new Center for the Arts Feb. 14 – March 25. Submissions are due by Jan. 21 at 11:59 p.m. Sign up here and contact Angela Mircsov, director of the VCSU Gallery, with any questions.

Artwork drop off will take place Feb. 4 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. or Feb. 8 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Center for the Arts Gallery. Artwork should be ready to hang.

Viking Sports Update

Women’s Basketball
Jan. 14: Viterbo 78, VCSU 72 (OT)
Jan. 15: VCSU 74, Waldorf 62 (OT)
The VCSU women’s basketball team played two overtime games this past weekend, including a victory against Waldorf. The Vikings are now 6-9 overall and 3-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. 

Men’s Basketball
Jan. 14: Viterbo 84, VCSU 70
Jan. 15: VCSU 74, Waldorf 69
Valley City State’s men’s basketball team went 1-1 on the road last weekend. The Vikings have an 11-7 overall record and a 2-3 record in the conference. 

Track & Field
Freshman Luis Garcia won the 600 meters in his collegiate debut Saturday, and Zachary Co won the shot put with a new personal record as the Viking track and field team competed at the Mike Thorson Open.

Read more: www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4272

Upcoming Events
Jan. 21: WBB/MBB vs. Mayville State, 5:30/7:30 p.m. (Valley City)
Jan. 22: Track & Field at Cobber Indoor Open, 12 p.m. (Moorhead, Minn.)
Jan. 22: WBB/MBB vs. Presentation College, 3/5 p.m. (Valley City)

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

Ongoing
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center (no testing Jan. 17 & Feb. 21 due to holidays)

Saturday, Jan. 29

• 8th Annual Pizza Corner Classic VCPR Youth Basketball Tournament

Monday, Jan. 31

• 5 – 7 p.m. VC Rotary Club Annual Pancake & Sausage Supper (Adults – $6, Children ages 6-16 – $4, Children under 6 – free)
  • Proceeds benefit V-500 Scholarship Program and other local organizations!

Community Club meetings

• Kiwanis – Wednesdays at noon, Valley City Town & Country Club
• Optimist Club – Thursdays at 7 a.m., Vicky’s Viking Room
• Rotary Club – Tuesdays at noon, VCSU
• Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals – 2nd Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church
• Barnes County Wildlife Federation – 2nd Wednesday of the month
• Grief Journeys for Adults Support Group – meet virtually, call Hospice at 701-845-1781 to take part

Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.